GEAR UP 101: An Overview of the National GEAR UP Program

NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual ConferenceJuly 20-23, 2008 • Washington, DC

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National Council For Community & Education

Partnerships (NCCEP)

• Non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to assisting students in becoming eligible for and academically successful in higher education.

• Serve as the national technical assistance provider & lead advocacy agency for GEAR UP Programs

• Founded by the Ford and Kellogg Foundations to foster K-16 partnerships among: colleges/universities, K-12 schools, parent groups, businesses, government agencies, foundations, and CBO’s

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Presentation Goals

• Provide new GEAR UP professionals with an overview of the GEAR UP program and its theory of change;

• Discuss common GEAR UP program strategies, interventions and activities; and

• Explore GEAR UP program outcomes and best practices for preparing lower income students for postsecondary education.

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Increasing Access and Readiness: An Overview of GEAR UP

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While Students Have High Expectations . . .• Percentage of 10th-graders who expected to attain various

levels of education

05

1015202530354045

High SchoolDiploma,

Equivalent orLess

SomeCollege,Including

Tech &Voc

Bachelor'sDegree

Graduate /Professional

Degree

1980

1990

2002

Fox, M.A., Connolly, B.A. and Snyder, T.D. (2005). Youth Indicators 2005: Trends in the Well-Being of American Youth, (NCES 2005-050). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington D.C.: GPO. Indicator 18

6

100

78

53 4835

0

20

40

60

80

100

Enrolled as 8thgrader in 1988

Graduate fromhigh school

Enroll inpostsecondary

education

Persist fromfirst to second

year

Earn a degreewithin 12 years

Source: Clifford Adelman, NELS:88:2000 data files.

# o

f 1

98

8 8

th g

rad

ers

The Education Pipeline is Leaking . . .

• Of 100 8th Graders in 1988:

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What We Know About College Readiness

• By the 8th grade, significant gaps exist in the academic achievement of student groups

• Low-income students are less likely to be enrolled in a college-prep curriculum (28%)

• African American and Hispanic students are far more likely to drop out than their White peers

• Minority and low-income students are less likely to receive a BA degree

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Building College Readiness

• GEAR UP is a holistic program that:

– diagnoses the root causes of student barriers to higher education;

– facilitates the completion of a rigorous college preparatory curriculum;

– provides intensive academic and social support to students;

– engages students and families about the value of education; and

– guides students and families through the college search, application, and enrollment process

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The Objectives of GEAR UP

• Increase the academic preparedness of GEAR UP students for postsecondary education

• Increase the rate of high school graduation and enrollment in postsecondary education

• Helping GEAR UP students and families navigate the college enrollment and financial aid processes

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What Makes GEAR UP Unique• Holistic program rooted in early intervention

– Beginning no later than 7th grade

• Provides whole grades with sustained programs– Programs follow students as they mature (cohort approach)

• Applies research-based practices to local efforts– Applications require deep analysis of local needs and resources

• Community and education partnerships– Legislation requires K-12, postsecondary, and community partners to

work towards common goals

• Leverages local assets and resources for sustainability– Dollar-for-dollar match requirement

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GEAR UP Grants State Grants

• Competitive, six-year grants

• Awarded to a organization appointed by Governor

• Must spend 50% of funds to provide scholarships to GEAR UP students

• Provide early intervention and services to cohorts of students, or alternatively, priority students

• Annual budget is limited--new applicants were limited to $3 million

• Dollar-for-dollar match requirement

Partnership Grants

• Competitive, six-year grants

• Awarded to a school district or college/university

• Provide early intervention and services to cohorts of students, in specific feeder patterns

• Annual budget is limited to $800 per student served

• Dollar-for-dollar match requirement

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Scope of GEAR UP Program• Active grants in 47 states, DC, PR, Palau, American

Samoa

• 5,263 schools served

• Serving approximately 640,000 Students

• Per student federal investment of $474

• Highly competitive: 10.4% of applicants funded in 2006 with a cut-off score of 97.3

• 8.5 % of applicants funded in 2008

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5%

1%

22%

30%

37%

2%

3%

Hispanic / Latino

Not Reported

White

Asian

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander

American Indian / Alaskan Native

African American

Racial and Ethnic Composition of Students Served by GEAR UP (April 2007)

N = 639,423

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What We Know Works – Characteristics of Successful Practice

• Comprehensive information– to students & parents– about local school system processes & community resources

• Comprehensive services– to students and parents– to address academic & social issues

• Comprehensive integration– of the K-12 and postsecondary school systems– of the school systems and the community– of community needs, program goals, program evaluation, &

program improvement

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How GEAR UP Works

Renegotiating RelationshipsRenegotiating Relationships

Quality of Quality of InstructionInstruction

Quality of Quality of Student EngagementStudent Engagement

Quantity ofQuantity ofInstructionInstruction

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How GEAR UP Works

Raise College Raise College AwarenessAwareness

Increase Academic Increase Academic AspirationsAspirations

Strengthen Academic Strengthen Academic AchievementAchievement

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What is GEAR UP doing?

Academic Achievement– Professional development for teachers, counselors,

administrators, and school staff

– Curriculum development and alignment

– Supplemental academic offerings• after-school, weekend, and summer academic programs

– Academic mentoring and tutoring

– Academic counseling

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What is GEAR UP doing?

Academic Aspirations

– Student, family and community outreach programs

– College visits and tours

– Career counseling, mentoring, and internships

– Student leadership, service learning, and motivational programs

– Scholarships, financial awards, and reduced tuition

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What is GEAR UP doing?

College Awareness

– Student, family, and community educational programs about the college search, application, and enrollment process

– College counseling, mentoring, SAT/ACT prep, and application services

– Financial literacy activities for students and families

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What is GEAR UP doing?

K-16 Partnership Development

– Development of shared agenda and action plan to improve college readiness in local communities

– Increased collaboration, joint programming, and local policy initiatives among partnership members

– Collaborating with community-based partners to provide a wealth of supplemental services to students and families outside of “school time”

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Why Partnerships?

GOALS

EducationImprovement

= Education Initiatives

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GEAR UP = Strategic Alignment

Student Achievement

SystemPerformance

GOALS

In an aligned educationpartnership . . .

… improvementefforts are integratedand results-oriented

Original Source: Pinellas County Schools & National Alliance of Business

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The Truth About GEAR UP Success

• While the strategies that GEAR UP provide are essential . . .

– GEAR UP is about people

– GEAR UP is about leadership

– GEAR UP is about relationships

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The Evolving Role of the GEAR UP Professional

• GEAR UP requires skill sets above and beyond content expertise:

– Program Administration and Grant Compliance

– Change Management

– Advocacy and Public Policy

– Community Relations and Communication

– Fundraising and Partnership Building

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Increasing Access and Readiness: A Summary of GEAR UP Outcomes

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GEAR UP’s Structure and Data

• Data about what?–Postsecondary education enrollment rates

• High school graduation rates• College preparation academic behaviors• College-going behaviors

• Data about whom?–Students, parents, teachers, school systems

• Data about which level? –National-level (federal and non-federal)–State/local partnership levels

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Students; National

Comparison of Postsecondary Enrollment Rates

60.2%53.1% 63.9%

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Source: U.S. Department of Education GEAR UP data files;Condition of Education 2004; NCES publication 2002-23.

GEAR UP data for 2004-05 academic year.

Po

stse

con

dar

y E

nro

llmen

t R

ate

(%)

GEAR UP Students All Low-income Students All Students

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Students; National

Comparison of High School Graduation Rates

85.5%64.1% 73.9%

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Source: U.S. Department of Education GEAR UP data files;Condition of Education 2004; NCES publication 2002-23.

GEAR UP data for 2006-07 academic year.

Gra

du

atio

n R

ate

(%)

GEAR UP Students All Low-income Students All Students

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Students; National

GEAR UP Student Algebra Completion by 9th Grade - Actual vs. Target

25%

30%

21%

50%

50%

52%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

2001 2002 2003 2004

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Pre

alg

egra

Co

mp

leti

on

Rat

e (%

)

Target

Actual

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Students; National

GEAR UP Students with Knowledge of Necessary Academic Preparation for College - Actual vs. Target

56%

61%64%

50%53%

57%

62%64%

54%

63%

40%

50%

60%

70%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Target

Actual

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Parents; National

GEAR UP Parents with Knowledge of Necessary Academic Preparation for College - Actual vs. Target

42%46%

31%

39%43%

48%

40%

47%

49%

38%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Target

Actual

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Students; Local

Washington State GEAR UPCollege Enrollment, 2005-06

79%56%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

GEAR UP High SchoolGraduates

All High School Graduates

En

rollm

ent

Ra

te

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Students; Local

New Jersey State GEAR UPAverage SAT Scores 2002-03

428 418

373 361

320

340

360

380

400

420

440

Average Math Score Average Verbal Score

GEAR UP Seniors Comparison Schools Non-GEAR UP Seniors

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Students; Local

Fairmont State, WV GEAR UPCourse Enrollment or Completion, 2004-05

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Algebra II Trigonometry AP Math AP English AP science

GEAR UP Students Non-GEAR UP Students

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GEAR UP Outcomes – School System; Local

Santa Ana, CA GEAR UP

Partnership schools in the Santa Ana GEAR UP program have increased the rigor of their high

school exit standards by aligning them with The University of California/California State University

entrance standards. GEAR UP initiated this school-wide reform that impacts both GEAR UP

and non-GEAR UP students.

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GEAR UP Outcomes – Student; Individual

Being a seventh grader, one does not think about the road to college. College itself seems unreachable. GEAR UP helped me realize that college is within reach. I recently was selected to receive a $100,000 scholarship to attend the University of Michigan. Thank you GEAR UP!

- Ben RuanoFirst-generation College Student,GEAR UP High School Graduate,

College Student

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For More Information

Alex Chough

National Council for Community and Education Partnerships

202-530-1135

Alex_Chough@edpartnerships.org

www.edpartnerships.org